Visually impaired journalist detained and released again

Visually impaired journalist Cüneyt Arat was under house arrest wearing an electronic ankle bracelet from July 2016 to February 2017

Visually impaired journalist Cüneyt Arat, who is facing terror charges due to his alleged links to the faith-based Gülen movement, was detained again in Adana on Sunday only to be released the same day.

Arat announced a police raid on his home and his subsequent detention on Twitter, citing “praising Fethullah Gülen” as the reason for being taken into custody. Any real or perceived links to Muslim cleric Gülen is considered a crime in Turkey.

Arat was arrested on July 21 for social media posts that allegedly praise the Gülen movement, which the government accuses of masterminding a failed coup attempt on July 15.

The disabled journalist remained under house arrest wearing an electronic ankle bracelet until the court ruled for its removal on Feb. 1.

A report issued by new advocacy group the Stockholm Center for Freedom (SCF) said that 191 journalists are in jail, 92 are wanted and 839 have been charged in Turkey.

SCF has documented the individual cases of 191 journalists who are either convicted and serving time in prison or jailed in pre-trial detention.

According to the Swedish-based center, most of the journalists have not even seen an indictment against them. The report stated that 92 journalists are wanted for arrest but remain at large either in Turkey or abroad.